Folding parallel-ruler



(No Model.)

J. W. LEEDS.

FOLDING PARALLEL RULER. No. 564,204. Patented JulyZl, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WV. LEDS, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICT.

FOLDING PARALLEL-RULER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patentl No. 564,204, dated July21, 1896.

Application filed February 17, 1896. Serial No. 579,534. (No model.)

To (all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LEEDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and uscful Improvements inFolding Parallel-Rulersg and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itl appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to provide a folding parallel-ruleradapted for general use, and especially adapted for use in schools, as,for example, in ruling lines for music on blackboards.

With these ends in view I have devised the novel ruler of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, numbers being used to designate the several parts.

Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating my novel ruler in use as aparallel-ruler, as, for example, in rulinglines for music on ablackboard; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l; Fig. 3, adetail perspective illustrating the manner in which my novel ruler isfolded when not in use or when it is desired to have a beveled edge;Fig. 4, a detail perspective illustrating the manner in which it isfolded when it is desired to have a straight edge; and Fig. 5 is asection on the line 5 5 in Fig. l, illustrating a crayon and pencilSharpener, which I preferably place in one of the strips.

My novel ruler comprises a series of strips A, each of which is providedwith two straight edges, which are beveled from the point l to the point2. Any number of these strips may be used, although I preferably usefour, as shown in the drawings. These strips are secured together bymeans of flexible hinges at the proper distance apart to permit lines tobe made between them. In making these hinges I preferably use strips ofleather, which I secure in place by forming slots 4 in the ends of thestrips, in which the leather is inserted and secured by glue or in anysuitable manner. Near the ends of the two edge strips I preferablyprovide holes 5, through which pins, tacks, or any suitable fasteningdevices may be passed to hold the ruler in position on a blackboard orwherever it may be used. I also preferably provide, near the end of oneof the strips, an opening 6, over which I place a plate 7 of metalsharpened at one or both edges, as at 8, which serves as a Sharpener forcrayons, pencils, &c.

The uses of my novel ruler will be apparent from the drawings. Vhen abeveled edge is required, the ruler is folded as in Fig. 3, thus givinga beveled edge on each side. Vhen a straight edge is required, it isfolded as in Fig. 4, thus giving a straight edge on each side, and whenit is desired to use it as a parallel-ruler either vertically,horizontally, or obliquely it is opened, as at Fig. l, in which form itwill be seen that it provides for ruling five parallel lines at equaldistances apart. In ruling for music, having formed the live lines ofthe staff in the usual manner, should lines be required above or belowthey may be readily-ruled at the same distance apart by placing twostrips of the ruler above or below the staff, as may be required.

Having thus described my invention, I claiin 1. A folding parallel-rulercomprising av series of strips each of which is provided with twostraight edges, beveled from one surface to the other and flexiblehinges by which said strips are secured together at equal distancesapart.

2. A folding parallel-ruler comprising a series of strips each of whichis provided with two straight edges beveled from one surface to theother and each end of said strips being provided with a slot i, andstrips of leather secured in said slots whereby flexible hinges areformed which permit the strips to be folded in either directionsubstantially as shown and described.

3. A folding parallel-ruler comprising a series of strips each of whichis provided with two straight edges beveled from one surface to theother, one or more of said strips being provided with holes to receivefastening devices, and one of said strips being provided with an opening5 and over said opening with a plate provided with edges 8 for thepurpose set forth, and flexible hinges where- IOO by said strips areseeured together at equal parallel lines and to be folded in eitherdidistanees apart. reotion. 1o

4. A folding parallel-ruler comprising a In testimony whereof l afxmysignature in series of strips having straight edges, beveled presenceof two witnesses.

5 from the point l to the point 2, and flexible JOHN W. LEEDS.

hinges whereby said strips are secured to- Vtnesses: gether at equaldistances apart so as to per- A. M. WOOSTER,

mit the strips to be opened to rule a series of H. SINCERBEAUX.

